I am not sure that Sachin has done the right thing. Whether Greg Chappel was right or not it makes me feel that the players had something in mind when they were playing. Many Indian fans are very regional in thinking-Bengali' going for Benagali Players, Marati's for Maharastrians and so on. Fact is thanks to Greg Chappel Saurav went out and came back with some fresh game. Same may be done by Sachin. He was a great player but he is not by any standard a great player now. Before we talk on statistics we need to see what are batting averages of our batsman on foreign pitches, what are averages against top teams etc.What are averages against different bowler types. One can always get his averages and totals up by hitting against Kenya or Bermuda.One an always break records if more games are played. Some Indian fans are saying it is just a game. If so why all the fuss and why all the preparation and rigidity in choice of players? All other teams seem to be playing for "WORLD CUP" and remember that it is World Cup. Only Indian team,Indian Fans and Indian Selection Boards and the paid talkers seem to think it is just another game.
I hate to think that some of these guys could be there in the next World Cup, making money on TV in between, losing again and then they give some explanations. Given this style of working by selectors players and fans it is doubtful India will ever make it to semifinals in World Cup. They could lose to Bermuda next time (beause Bermuda would practice a lot by then, and they will want to win) come back and tell us "It is just a game", "we are sorry", "We are ashamed" and so on. I hope Sachin and the other players don't relate to their kids and family the same way. Imagine their kids going to a school where the teachers get paid, dont teach and when their kids fail teachers start saying "we are sorry", "It is just another exam", "we messed it up", "has any one tried to understand what we were going through?" " we apologize"... and if their kids fail the Nation need not bow down in shame-and listen to the others say "they did not deserve to be in super eight". This comment is hundred and ten percent right.What the comment implies though, is that the players did not deserve to be there, India certainly deserves to be there.
